Early in my Christian walk, I got caught up in end times speculation, even imagining locust descriptions in the book of Ezekiel were attempts to describe helicopters. That was the only subject I would talk about and people thought I had lost it.

I’ve mellowed out a bit on that one.

I have seen people redirect conversations away from their spiritual need, avoid the topic all together, or simply change subjects to the weather.

Paul experienced evangelistic conversation detours

Felix had some level of spiritual curiosity, and some working knowledge about the followers of Jesus (Acts 24:22), even if it was only on a political level as the movement of Christianity spread.

Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. (v24)

Paul and Felix discussed Jesus and what it means to follow Jesus.

25 As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.”

I can imagine that Felix even experienced the convicting work of the Holy Spirit in some of those conversations. Even if there were some hidden motives for hearing Paul (like bribery – v. 26), Felix still got to hear of Jesus and the implications of being a disciple of Christ.

These faith sharing conversations went on for the next two years (v.27).

How to avoid evangelistic conversation detours.

In the Outreach article, Osborne goes back to the one irrefutable argument in personal evangelism: your own story of your relationship with Christ.

About EvangelismCoach

Chris wants to help you increase the number of conversations that lead people towards Christ. He has studied evangelism and church growth ever since working for a Billy Graham crusade over 20 years ago, and has led countless training seminars throughout North and South America in many different denominations.